Coastal highway: Obong of Calabar urges Tinubu not to shift payment of compensation to state govt

… Says that construction of coastal highway should start from Calabar Axis

By Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu has called on the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to also begin the construction of the coastal highway from the Calabar axis to enhance speedy completion of the road.

The Obong of Calabar, Abasi who spoke to The Nations News Nigeria in Calabar, stressed that splitting the construction of the coastal highway from the Calabar end will assist the government to overcome the rising cost of construction materials and minimize construction cost.

The Chairman of the Obong of Calabar Executive Forum, Gershom Henshaw who spoke on behalf of the monarch, however asked the federal government not to shift the responsibility for the payment of compensation for properties and economic places to the state government.

He demanded that federal government should handle such payments to avoid bugging down contraction work.

“The Lagos- Calabar Coastal highway is a landmark infrastructure development that will boost commerce, tourism, transportation and the emergence of new towns and economic centres along the highway corridor therefore , it is the responsibility of government to develop the highway, it should also pay compensation which is outside the capacity of most state governments”.

He said the Efik nation is solidly behind the project, notwithstanding the position by some persons who think otherwise and called for the speedy execution of the project.

“The Obong of Calabar and the entire Efik nation support the successful completion of this all important project, which will unlock the economic landscape and tackle the socio economic challenges facing the people” he stated.

The monarch stressed that if work also start from the Calabar axis and handled by competent contractors under close supervision by the Minister of Works, the project would be delivered during the tenure of the present administration.

“We praise President Tinubu for his vision for the country and urge all the communities where the highway will traverse to give full cooperation to the contractors to ensure speedy completion and commissioning of this all important highway” He maintained.